Gamers Change Lives

Creating Esports Businesses in Africa with Atsu Sikanku

Today’s guest is Atsu Sikanku from Ghana and the UK. He is the International Relations Manager and co-founder of Esports Africa News, Playtourney.live, Tema Esports Club, Team Falcon, Esports Innovation Centre.
NOTE: The most important message that was brought home in this discussion was that creating esports businesses can be by working hard, focusing on building locally, and believing in yourself.
Our discussion included:
The Breadth of Jobs in Esports
What are the types of jobs that esports can create?
What he looks for in hiring candidates
Esports Africa News
What was needed that lead to the creation of Esports Africa News?
Sources for content
Language and Culture in Esports
Is language a barrier to success in esports?
How does culture impact esports?
Local Ownership
What is local ownership, and why is it important?
Is Africa being left out of esports?
Mobile
Is mobile the future of esports in Africa?
Government and Non-Government Organizations
Are there too many organizations?
Should esports be included in the Olympics?
Episode Webpage: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/6-creating-esports-businesses-in-africa-with-atsu-sikanku/
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FEATURED IN THIS EPISDOE:
Atsu Sikanku
International Relations Manager and co-founder of Esports Africa News, Playtourney.live, Tema Esports Club, Team Falcon, Esports Innovation Centre.
Partner - Giiks Game City, tournament operator
Also, the Director for strategic partnership, Esports Association, Ghana
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-sikanku-bsc-llm-mciarb-2780b934/
Esports Africa News: https://esportsafricanews.com
PlayTourney:  https://playtourney.live
Tema Esports Club: https://twitter.com/temaesportsclub
Team Falcon Ghana: https://twitter.com/teamfalcon_gh
GGCchannel: https://twitter.com/ggcchannel
Esports Ghana Association: https://ghanaesports.com
Hado Games - https://hado-official.com/
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Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/ to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast
PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Producer: Reginald Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
The Gamers Change Lives Podcast is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of an inspiring esports entrepreneur and learn how they solved one particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.
I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!

Content Creation With Mitch Esguerra of Galaxy Racer

Today’s guest is Mitch Esguerra, CEO of Southeast Asia at Galaxy Racer, a Transmedia Powerhouse focused on Esports, Content Creators, Music and Sports, with over 100 content creators amassing over 500 million followers and generating over 2.5 billion monthly views. He leads the establishment, growth, and scale of Galaxy Racer’s regional operations across the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia. 
NOTE: The most important message that was brought home in this discussion was that anyone can become an esports content creator if they be genuine and authentic.
Our discussion included:
The Esports Industry
Galaxy Racer is a Transmedia Powerhouse focused on Esports, Content Creators, Music & Sports
The importance of covering multiple facets of the industry to be successful
Content Creators
How do you become a successful content creator in esports?
How to get started as a content creator?
Language and Culture in Esports
Is language a barrier to success in esports?
How does culture impact esports and content creators?
Mobile
What does “mobile-first” mean in esports
Why is mobile dominant in Southeast Asian esports?
Sponsorship
How to attract esports sponsors
How can you make money as an esports content creator?
Government and Non-Government Organizations
Why is it important that esports businesses work with regional, national, and international organizations?
Should esports be included in the Olympics?
 
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FEATURED IN THIS EPISDOE:
Mitch Esguerra – Galaxy Racer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-esguerra/  
Galaxy Racer: https://galaxyracer.gg/
 
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Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/ to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast
 
Podcast Episode Web Site: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/5-content-creation-mitch-esguerra-galaxy-racer

Tournaments with Eniola Edun of GAMR Africa

Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
Today’s guest is Eniola Edun. She is the Chief Executive Officer/ Co-Founder at Gamr, the leading platform for esports competitions based in Lagos, Nigeria.
NOTE: The most important message that was brought home in this discussion was that anyone interested in creating a tournament should first look at building a community.
Our discussion included:
Tournaments
how tournaments fit into the esports ecosystem
mobile/console/PC platform differences
logistics on venues, equipment, publisher permissions, and more
GAMR X 10 Nation Tournament in 2021
how it was created in only a few months to create an event to global standards
the scope and number of jobs created
Jobs
how the GAMR X Tournament created 250 jobs
the variety of jobs created, and yes, even for drone pilots
how they were able to make the event free for all attendees, including food and drink
Sponsorship/Money
the costs of putting on Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 events
the difference between sponsorships and partnerships
setting prize pools
Emerging Markets
the challenges of ping rates and servers
internet constraints
Plus, her three pieces of advice for anyone interested in creating their first tournament.
Episode Page: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/4-tournaments-eniola-edun-gamr-africa/
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FEATURED IN THIS EPISDOE:
Eniola Edun
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eniolaedun/
Gamr: https://gamr.africa/
Awarii: https://www.awarri.com/
Esports Africa News Coverage of the GAMR X 10 Nation Tour: https://esportsafricanews.com/?s=gamr
 
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Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/ to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast
 

Community and Content with Sagar Nair of India

Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
Today’s guest is Sagar Nair. He is the Co-founder & CEO at Qlan from Mumbai, India. He is also the co-founder of The Times of Esports – an esports news website.
His introduction to esports came through attending a college festival and watching the crowd reaction to the streamer “Mortal” playing.
NOTE: The most important message that was brought home in this discussion was that anyone who feels like they are on the outside of esports wanting in, it is possible to create your own jobs. Which Sagar has done twice so far.
Mobile Gaming and Esports
Sagar describes the mobile-first esports ecosystem on the subcontinent. The prime factors are affordability and access.
Mobile tournaments dominate esports in India and learn about the surprising cost of data. Mobile gaming is so important that any phone review contains gaming stats.
Government Bans
The ban by the Indian government of PUBG resulted in a tremendous loss of world-wide viewership and led to some creative solutions.
Community Building
Sagar and his group identified a gap in the industry which was not providing the opportunity to become content creators for the majority of players. So Qlan was created. (Pronounced “Clan” – do not embarrass yourself as I did.) Qlan is a social networking platform for gamers.
Jobs
The industry focuses on streamers, but there is a wide variety of jobs which Sagar describes as the “spine” of the business. This is the framework of the industry and creates a wide range of jobs for people wanting to be a part of esports.
In fact, the government of India has recognized the importance of gaming and the jobs it creates by lending support for AVGC - animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics (AVGC).
Content
Before establishing Qlan, Sagar and his group created The Times of Esports – a news website devoted to gaming and esports in India.
Language
While English may be the most common language used in esports on the subcontinent, players want to play with others who speak their own language.
Servers
As reported by many others around the world, the lack of local servers can be a challenge in India for professional gamers. Sagar brings up one solution a team used to overcome the bad ping rate.
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FEATURED IN THIS EPISDOE:
Sagar Nair – India
He is the Co-founder & CEO at Qlan from Mumbai, India. He is also the co-founder of The Times of Esports – an esports news website.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagarnair/
Qlan: https://qlan.gg/
The Times of Esports: https://thetimesofesports.com/
AVGC: https://abai.avgc.in/avgc-industry/
Loco: India's Own Free Online Livestreaming & Esports Platform: https://loco.gg/
Rooter: India's biggest Gaming & Esports Community: https://web.rooter.gg/
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Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/ to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast

Teams: Professional Player Queen Arrow from Kenya

Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
Teams are the backbone of the esports industry, and the professional players are the athletes who are front and center to the audience. In episode 2 we talk with Sylvia ‘Queen Arrow’ Gathoni from Kenya about her fighting game career, where she started, and how she sees the esports landscape in Africa today.
Fighting Games
Queen Arrow began her fighting game career on PS2, playing with family and particularly with her brothers.
Her interest in fighting games was inspired by her interest in martial arts, which demonstrates the ability of this genre to lend itself to the “real world”.
In 2017 her participation in the East Africa Gaming Convention led her to become a professional player, specializing in Tekken.
Teams
An esports team provides a platform for players. And a professional team gives the players more resources to develop their talent and skills.
Some of the attributes Queen Arrow looks for in a team includes a group that works together well, has ambition, a willingness to learn and to ask questions.
Training
Training to Queen Arrow is described as the focus on quality, and not quantity. Watching others play is also important, especially when she is coming up against a particular opponent.
One of her keys to success has been to be continuously curious, asking questions, and watching others. Even just 30 minutes of watching the right YouTube videos can make a difference.
The Business of Esports
Sylvia is completing her law training in Kenya and hopes to use that background to work further in the business side of esports in the future.
In particular, she describes how contracts are important throughout the industry. And she describes more opportunities for individuals to become more involved in the business side of the sport.
Her best advice is to “trust your gut” when making business decisions as a professional player, and to always feel confident to contact an esports attorney for advice when needed.
Jobs
At the Gamers Change Lives Podcast we want to focus on the jobs that can be created.
Queen Arrow described many opportunities in the industry outside of being a professional player, such as developing policy, marketing, content creators, producers, graphic designers, managers, coaches, and more.
The Challenges of Esports in an Emerging Market
There are many challenges facing the esports industry in Africa. These include the lack of servers on the continent, developers not paying attention to Africa, infrastructure challenges particularly outside of the major cities and markets.
She recommends that the industry can be more creative in organizing esports events in Africa.
Mobile Esports
Queen Arrow agrees with our previous guest Kofi Sika LATZOO that mobile is going to be increasingly important in esports in Africa. In particular the younger population will help that growth.
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FEATURED IN THIS EPISDOE:
Sylvia ‘Queen Arrow’ Gathoni – Kenya
Queen Arrow is a fighting game superstar, who is best known for playing Tekken 7. She has been part of multiple organizations, such as XiT Woundz and now UYU as a content creator and Tekken player. She also just recently graduated from law school in her native Kenya and is currently enrolled in the Advocates Training Programme at the Kenya School of Law."
Sylvia is well known as the first African female esports professional.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MalikaSiheme98
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequeenarrow98/
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/TheQueenArrow98
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvia-gathoni-20705012b/
She recommends the book “The Will to Keep Winning” by Daigo Umehara as an inspiration for her success. https://www.amazon.com/Will-Keep-Winning-DAIGO-UMEHARA-ebook/dp/B01JOEKKWU
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Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/ to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast

The Role of Esports in Creating Jobs

1. The Role of Esports in Creating Jobs
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
In Episode 1 we talk with Kofi Sika LATZOO (Senegal) and Kwesi Hayford (Ghana) about the role of esports in creating jobs around the world. Both of our guests show the depth of their experience and knowledge in almost every facet of esports in Africa. They talk about what is esports, jobs in the industry, and esports in emerging markets.
Learn “What is esports?” from a perspective of monetization, gamification, and most importantly that it involves making money which leads to job opportunities.
Many times, people think of gaming – and esports – as not being a serious industry. After all, we are playing games. Sometimes it is tagged as a distraction or worse. Hear about the types and variety of jobs in esports from experts who have created them over the years.
Learn about training opportunities for those interested in a job in esports – and the number one training platform: hands-on experience.
So often people think that the ability to create teams, tournaments, and just play games, is universal. But learn about the special constraints found in emerging markets. From physical infrastructure to higher costs; logistics and financing. And the lack of support from major game publishers on the African continent. Are servers ever coming to Africa?
Is mobile gaming the future in esports in Africa? Hear two competing viewpoints from our guests.
Can the difficulties of competing on a global scale for African professional gamers actually turn into a secret weapon? Did Anubis Gaming have an advantage in the Red Bull Campus Clutch Tournament? (see the link below)
Yes, esports can create jobs. A wide variety of jobs, in Africa and around the world. Most importantly, esports activities can create cashflow. And that can create jobs.
Thanks again to two real superstars in the esports world, Kofi, and Kwesi.
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FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:
Kofi Sika LATZOO - Senegal
Creative Director, GIZ Gamification Certified Consultant, Founder + Creative Director for Musel, Founder + Global Creative Director of Gamecampcities the 360 Gaming Agency, and Design + Esports Lecturer at KEDGE Business School in France.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kofisikalatzoo/
Kwesi Hayford - Ghana
President of Esports Association, Ghana, and Chief Streaming Officer of ROVERMANN PRODUCTION, Ghana.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thekwesihayford/
Mentioned: “The Impossible - Red Bull Campus Clutch Movie” https://youtu.be/IqsrRVoK3_k
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Please subscribe to our podcast wherever you are listening to this episode.
Leave us a rating and a review if you like our content for others to discover what we are doing.
And tell your friends!
CONNECT WITH US ELSEWHERE:
Visit our website at https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/ to learn more about our program, our blog, and sign up for our emails to be notified of upcoming episodes.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GamersChangeLives
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegclpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gamerschangelives/?hl=en
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/gamerschangelives
Email: info@gamerschangelives.com
PRODUCTION:
Creator and host: Tom Leonard (USA) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomeleonard/
Producer: Reginal Nsowah (Ghana) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-nsowah-09352929/
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
The Gamers Change Lives Podcast is a show about how to build an esports business from literally anywhere in the world where each week we showcase the journey of an inspiring esports entrepreneur and learn how they solved one particular problem that everyone will ultimately face.
I am your host, Tom Leonard. I have a background in entertainment marketing. After working with many amazing esports entrepreneurs from emerging markets, they inspired me to create a show to tell their stories so that others can be motivated to create their own esports business. Gaming and esports can create jobs tackling the problem of global youth unemployment. Creating jobs from playing games. What could be better than that?
Thanks for listening to The Gamers Change Lives Podcast!
Episode website: https://www.gamerschangelivespodcast.com/1-the-role-of-esports-in-creating-jobs

Gamers Change Lives - Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.

Playing games can change lives. Listen to our rally cry, join us on our quest to present the amazing stories of esports entrepreneurs in emerging markets.
Gamers Change Lives Podcast Show Notes – Rally Cry Episode
Episode Title: Play Games. Create Jobs. Change Lives.
Introduction:
“Over the next decade, the World Bank estimates one billion young people will try to enter the job market, but less than half of them will find formal jobs. This has the potential to negatively impact a generation of young people around the world.” – Mercy Corps
But what if I told you about one powerful tool that exists today? Something that is easy to implement and targets youth unemployment? And it involves people playing games? Yes, video games. Think I am crazy? Let me explain…
The Status Quo. There are many esports entrepreneurs around the world who are looking for ways to create jobs for themselves. And for others. They want to make a difference, but well, they don’t always know where to start. So, they use their curiosity to tackle the problem.
But… there are some problems with the status quo.
People don’t think of gaming and esports as a real business
The lack of training resources
The information on developing a career in esports typically does not concentrate on the skills needed for the entrepreneur wanting to start their own esports business
But perhaps the biggest obstacle for aspiring entrepreneurs wanting to create an esports business in an emerging market is that the content they find is not geared to being successful in Ghana, or India, or Brazil, but talks about how it is done in Los Angeles, Austin, London, or Berlin.
“Basically, they do not get to hear from people who look like them.”
The Gamers Change Lives Podcast will tell their stories of success, from around the world. Stories of teams created, tournaments held, sponsors acquired, and much more. Their stories are numerous and inspiring and need to be shared.
The focus will not be hearing from someone in the US or Europe who has created a huge esports organization and try to duplicate their success. It will be much more useful than that.
Always remember that playing games can lead to jobs. And those jobs can change lives!
Main Topics
Global youth unemployment
How esports can provide jobs
Problems with the status quo for aspiring esports entrepreneurs
One potential solution
Additional Resources
Youth unemployment: a global crisis – Mercy Corps
How Many People Play Video Games in The World? – WePlay Esports
Listen, rate, and subscribe!
Website: gamerschangelivespodcast.com